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EUROPEAN EQUITY MARKETS steadied today in light Christmas Eve trade, with most investors away for the holidays, but sentiment was hampered by the impending US fiscal cliff, dealers said.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index of top shares gained just 0.24 per cent to end at 5,954.18 points, finishing early for Christmas. The Paris CAC 40 meanwhile dipped 0.24 per cent to close at 3,652.61. Frankfurt had shut early on Friday.
In foreign exchange activity, the euro advanced to $1.3219, up from $1.3181 late in New York on Friday. All three main European stock markets will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, but will reopen for business on Thursday.
Fiscal cliff
With an end-of-year deadline just days away, sparring Washington politicians have yet to strike a compromise that could prevent a US “fiscal cliff” of automatic taxation hikes and spending cuts from taking effect on January 1.
Experts warn that going over the cliff could force the world’s biggest economy back into recession.
Before the weekend, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 stocks index fell 0.47 per cent to end at 7,636.23 points on Friday. Milan also finished early, with the FTSE Mib index dropping 0.40 per cent to 16,333.95 points.
Investors remain worried about debt-laden Italy after the nation’s Prime Minister Mario Monti resigned late last week after the Italian parliament passed a key budget vote.
The parliament was dissolved on Saturday, paving the way for general elections. Monti’s resignation ended a technocrat government that was brought in to save Italy from the eurozone debt crisis.
Across in Asia today, equities rose in quiet pre-Christmas trade after big losses in the previous session, as US lawmakers remain deadlocked in talks to avert the fiscal cliff.
With many markets open for just a half day, Hong Kong won 0.16 percent, Shanghai gained 0.27, Sydney added 0.25 percent and Seoul was flat.
Tokyo, Manila and Jakarta were closed for public holidays.
Wall Street
Wall Street had finished the week in positive territory, despite fiscal cliff turmoil, with traders poised to keep a close eye on the crisis during the final days of 2013.
New York markets were also due to shut early today and remain closed tomorrow, with action expected to be light in the coming days — especially since lawmakers are not due back in town until midweek.
Sentiment was hit after House Speaker John Boehner late Thursday scrapped a vote on a bill that would have extended tax cuts for all Americans earning less than $1 million even if a wider deal could not be struck.
The move, which he described as his “Plan B”, was dropped because he did not have enough support. He said his party would recess until after Christmas.
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What a trenchant and stinging vindication of Mr O’Brien’s position. “Dey did something wrong nine years ago, so they can’t talk about me.” The tribunal findings tell us all we need to know about this person ‘s ‘reputation ‘. Given that those findings may only represent the tip of the iceberg I’d shut up if I were him.
The Times also banned the phrase “pro-life” from it’s news pages. And these are the guardians of freedom of the press?
Loren Ipsum tries a lame and feeble diversionary tactic in the same style as DOB.
banned? no . not bothered with? Yes
@Rashers, Quite right, he has no problem pointing out ridiculous faults and failings of others while ignoring his own guilt. I realise they’re culpable in much of this, but where are our government, why are they keeping their heads down and saying nothing? Normally you can’t shut them up.
If he wants to call himself a “citizen” he should pay his tax here.
To be a citizen of any country Sinister, you have to follow the laws and codes of that country, otherwise you be fined or jailed for breaking them?
You should, especially when a High court judge finds you bribed a government minister.
yeah you would think that alright. But seemingly if you bribe a Goverment FG minister and have a big enough bank balance it is only some laws and customs codes etc you are required to obey
I think its time Dermot desmond gave him a call to tell him to give it over. too much heat man!
Too true Boyne. Enda went into hiding when he launched his crusade against the dail trying to silence it. If enda really believes in free speech time to say something.. Not that long ago he was marching in Paris. But then again this is fg and let’s be honest even after the Moriarty tribunal findings where a judge decided dob bribed a fg minister , enda thought it was fine to ring a bell with the Man. So its hardly surprising he is quite.. The more dob continues like this , the more fg will go down in the polls because of the association with fg.
Hopefully.
Hopefully
Why is my reply not being attached to correct comment being made?
I twice replied to the comment by Michael Sands 59 minutes ago # 3 30
To be a citizen of any country Sinister, you have to follow the laws and codes of that country, otherwise you be fined or jailed for breaking them?
One nation, under DOB!
Everyone is pro-life. Surely pro-choice and anti-choice would be more apt.
enda is more interested in frilly frocks than looking after the people who elected him.
Who would have thought that a billionaire could be so needy! There are just some things that you can’t buy Denis. Most of your fellow countrymen & women despise you – we also pay our taxes by the way!
For the benefit of a certain legal firm. The above link is to a satirical article on a well known satire website. As it cannot be reasonably deemed to be factual it does not breach any of the current laws on defamation or libel.
“BUSINESSMAN Denis O’Brien has revealed that he sometimes lies awake at night hugging himself because no one else will.”
Denis can I ask you one question?
“Why so serious?”
“Jaw Yoga?” Classic!
As the Beatles sang Money can’t buy you love.
I notice that a large number of comments are being removed by The Journal in relation to this topic – including my own ??? Why I wonder ???
Journalists here , in fear of being threatened of being sued – spineless attitude to bullying – shameful Journalism , as well as Journalistic Standards !
Publish your own comment on your own website and take the consequences Eddie Barrett Ciarraioch.
This lad just can’t seem to keep his lawyers in his pants.
Where does he keep everyone else and don’t answer that lol.
I think he’s citing the High Court judgement – which was overturned in the Supreme Court – There was no question of truth regarding the leaked document, the “claimant” mas merely trying to conduct a witch-hunt to discover the source of the leak, which the courts won’t entertain – and rightly so.
It just shows how petulant the Man is. Acting like a spoilt little child. Next he will be getting enda to do a national address. Where enda will tell the nation to stop picking on his friend.
he’s pathetic
Denis, needs to wise up, if our politicians had any balls they would pass legislation covering satire as soon as possible to stop these nonsense legal cases taking up precious court time
If the DPP had any balls, a decision whether or not to prosecute him for fraud on the foot of the findings of the Moriarty tribunal would be published.
4 years sitting on a report with such serious implications is unacceptable.
Were jammin, perhaps the DPP believes the burden of proof required for a successful prosecution is not there. Every citizen of the state is innocent u till proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
If infidel would tell us who’s hiding behind the account we might actually listen to what he/she is saying
You do realise a tribunal of investigation cannot make any legal findings, so the DPP cannot prosecute on the basis of findings from a Tribunal, they have to wait on a file from the Gardai
Infidel – Surely you mean if The DPP had evidence ?
Maybe your shower should reintroduce Section 31 again ?
You so called ‘Democrats’ hahahshahsha !!!!!
@ infidel “If the DPP had any balls Gerry Adams would be in jail
After being found guilty of what? Or are you just a big fan of internment?
At the time (1995), it was not a crime to bribe a public official nor for one to take a bribe
A lot of the evidence lies outside the jurisdiction and cannot be compelled due to jurisdiction reasons.
Michael Fingleton of Irish Nationwide gave evidence to the Moriarty tTrubunal that although he was the CEO of Irish Nationwide, he could not direct the wholly owned subsidiary in the Ise of Man to disclose account details.
The events investigated by the Moriarty Tribunal too place in 1995 and 1996. The evidential trail has gone cold and many witnesses are outside of jurisdiction. There are practical reasons which impede a successful prosecution.
One is free to conclude based on the Moriarty Tribunal Report Phase 2 that there was impropriety in relation to the award of the 2nd GSM Licence. No case has been established that the Chairman of the Trubunal, Judge Moriarty, was motivated by any bias or malice against DOB or Michael Lowry.
The fact that a criminal prosecution may not now, almost 20 years later, be feasible does not exonerate DOB of culpability.
We’re still waiting for them to get rid of Blasphemy laws that the last government set up. The same laws that would have made Je Suis Charlie illegal over here. Well, at least we think it would have made it illegal over here. We don’t exactly know, since a solicitor or barrister couldn’t tell you what the laws mean. An illogical reaction to the Mohammed cartoons.
We, generally, don’t need a satire law. Anyone with a right mind can spot satire a mile away. You can be offended by satire, yes, but the law doesn’t cover that. It’s only when someone has money that they can throw around that people think they may be in trouble. They’re not.
Remember there was some cartoon that was pulled from one of our Irish papers because some jerk got offended by an image satirising religion. Well, that may have offended people, but there was nothing to sue over. I think the paper did a turn around because they were afraid of losing customers-and yes, I mean customers. Papers have to be bought, for one thing.
And now FG have drafted Frank Flannery into the debate. Have they no shame. Mind you Flannery was a good friend of DOB before he resigned as FG chairman.
Now we have been allowed to make a comment on DOB, I am so shocked that I cannot think of a comment to make.
Just go with Moriarty, “that lad seems dodgy!”. Should be safe enough with tha
Comment about DOB is superfluous in any event, so is satire so are defamatory comments, just read the report of the Moriarty tribunal it`s all there freely available online and from government publications, (where you might have to pay a modest fee).
He should take his wealth and bring it back to his loving Barbados home and do as he wishes with his Fickle friends there. He is a scourge on our nation and society and a bully to our state. GOOD RIDDANCE
As a citizen? A citizen of Malta surely?
Disagree. He should be tried for bribing a public official, and if found guilty he should be jailed and his assets seized and used to fund investment in infrastructure and clean energy.
In which country?
as we now know it is a crime to take a bribe BUT not a crime to give a bribe crazy or what!
It’s mad that someone who is so corrupt and who is in Fine Gaels pockets can still get away with it when this government promised transparency.
Is he in FG’s pocket or are they ( and therefore currently the Country) in his. Either or it should be enough for people to ensure that they are not re elected anytime in near future.
A donation of $50,000 was made to Fine Gael by Esat via Telenor.
You can’t stop people donating money if they want to.
I’m sure SF were disgusted when the proceeds of the IRA Northern Bank robbery kept getting found around Ireland in the hands of friends of the party mid-launder.
Very similar politically embarrassing situation when you think about it.
The man is becoming a parody of a parody but he has the wealth and power eventually to stamp out publicly expressed criticism.
Have a look at Dobflms trending on twitter and a few more sites. Hilarious.
Spongedob will not be too happy.
So is there any truth in the rumor that he is suing Carly Simon because he thinks the song is about him.
Money and ruthlessness obviously have no bearing on intelligence as this foolish bully boy continues to dig a deeper hole
Fair play to the Times for printing his letter. It seems fair that people should have access to both sides of the debate.
Oh, hang on a minute….
The IT only printed it because it was a miserably weak comeback. Also because it gives kudos to IT that their article riled the Great and Powerful DOB (may we all bow our heads in mention of His name)
I know, but the irony..
he and his legal team seem completely clueless as to what satire is. sarcasm is even more complex. I doubt any of them is capable of understanding your glorious commentary. ;)
Thanks, kind sir…
this man need to wise up. he is just bringing more bad publicity upon himself. Funnily enough as had been said don’t see him talking about the moriarty tribunal or threatening to sue it. Likely has made his money through what might best described as dodegy dealing. go away denis and stop trying to control the media
Poor aul Dennis is cracking under the pressure
Are we allowed to mention the apparent ‘deliberate act of destruction’ of documents relating to matters investigated by the Moriarty tribunal?
His little rant comes across like Quazimodo shouting at you to sit up straight.
I can’t see Aaron McKenna having the temerity to express criticism of Denis O’Brien.
Aaron McKenna probably would call DOB his role model and greatest influence
He’s a money God, Aarons type love that. Who remembers our finance minister rolling out the red carpet for Trump, this is no different. Cap doffing sycophants hoping for crumbs, we can see you now!
“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.”
This man is inextricably linked to Fine Gael, and as long as they are in power his sense of impunity knows no bounds. He reminds me of Lional Shultz – Homer Simpson’s attorney- who tried to sue Hollywood over “Never
Ending Story”. Denis knows that both his and FG’s days are coming to an end. And like them,he’s becoming a real figure of ridicule.
Now that Michael O’Leary has been moved to a nicer persona, O’Brien now is our national demon in residence. Is he our Donald Trump?
I don’t suppose Politicians will introduce a law whereby anybody bribing a politician will get a mandatory sentence of 10 years in jail? If they could backdate it to 1975 it would be great.
Mindfulirish, backdate the law? Surely you’re being sarcastic. Backdating criminal laws is the preserve of dictatorships!
We did it when the law banning the sale and possession of certain drugs was ruled to have been introduced in a manner that was unconstitutional. One law for the peasantry and another for the nobles as always.
well well nothing about this in the independent today. it just proves that people here who were dismissed as cranks were right in claiming the media was controlled and not free of influence by monied person’s or politics. I’m delighted as hopefully it’ll wake some people up to the fact that Irelands for sale no questions asked.
Why doesn’t he fcuk off to the Goldilocks Zone? He has the hair for it.
The standards of journalism are slipping probably due to folks in the industry not smoking and drinking and raising hell as in the olden days. Perhaps the old ‘Private Eye’ trick of giving a new name to some ‘ public figure’ should be resurrected such as referring to HRH as Brenda? Denise is too obvious so perhaps the journal could have a poll on suggestions for a new name? How about Dimples?
Dobby? (house elves are unlikely to sue)
Brilliant ! Dimples Dobby is just perfect, we must notify all the Meeja Editors immediately although I am surprised that Whispers did not do something like this already.
Danny O’Boy maybe?????????
King Denny Kenny
Shouldn’t this malteaser use his Maltese address ? Citizen my hinny ! What a scrote ! Is it libelous to call him a fat ball bag ?
I would contend this guy with all of his wealth is reviled by the populist. This is why he is so litigious.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, or failing that carry a big stick and hire some lawyers
“Hits back”? Hardly. Your headline should read “Irish Times Publishes Petulant Whinge from Wealthy Foreign Arsehole.”
Look O’Brien your a devious Dirty Rotten Scoundrel simple as.. You can sue sue sue all ye like doesn’t take away the hate that the people of Ireland feel for you..
His spelling in that little note is atrocious. how can anyone make so many errors while attempting to spell “Tax Exile”.
Dear Denis, thank you for your letter. please kindly go back to Malta.
And play with your rubber ducky…
What a plonker
He should be grateful to live in a country where you can sound off a national newspaper just by sending an e-mail, and without being censored.
I know that everyone has a right to their good name but how can anyone have a right to the said good name if their actions cause their said good name to be tarnished by their own actions.
So if anyone has done anything to tarnish their name in a negative way then they are to blame and if these actions can be proved by said person then how can that person complain. If the same said actions of anyone is corrupt, illegal or against the laws of that country then the public has a right to know about them as well as a case for criminality be taken against any said person if they have done anything criminal or illegal?
If the said person has done damage or effected the systems of laws and ruling of any country illegally or immorally then what is the problem to bring these to light if they are true???
Now to Denis the Menace, what has he done… lol.
I’m really sick of that persons fat face.
I’m hoping with all this litigation pending, maybe a judge will order garda investigation into claims made by the Moriarty tribunal. Maybe then we will see if Mr o bribe,… Sorry Mr o brien is as law abiding as he claims to be.You know just for the purpose of clearing his ahem ” good name” can’t have all these falsehoods floating around without proper investigation. Maybe the CAB should be involved too just to be extra sure. I’m sure he’ll be fine with that because he’s of such good character
this excuse for a human being should be banned from our country.
There are on
There are two things I know about the entrepreneur Denis O’Brian:
1) that he is not in jail and
2) I don’t know why !
“…And so a citizen…”
Revoke his citizenship. He doesn’t live here anyway, and all he has done is cause trouble.
DOB get a life having a go at Waterford Whispers its satire a joke funny get over yourself. Who do you think you are, you defo not that important in many peoples lives. No one would have taken it too seriously until you butted in.
you are some a$$hole
Populace. The word is populace. Carry on.
does he honestly want us to believe he is squeaky clean? perhaps if he comes clean and confesses the names of all those hes bribed and who have accepted. he has been given some leg up in this country and frankly I wish he’d bugger off unless he earns the right to stay here but on honest grounds.
dobbo wants to protect his good name……that horse has bolted dobbo
I hope a judge rules in his favour and awards him what his good name is worth, a ha’penny.
Fair play Denis.
Dude…
He’s got a point about the Times destroying documents. It’s become an institution that’s awfully selective in its values
Read the Moriarty Repprt of December 2012 and you will observe the wide scale suppression of important legal documentation by various interests concerned with concealing the money trail.
The Irish Times was motivated by protection of its sources. It was in an unenviable quandary. It took a decision in the interests of the protection of the anonymity of the whistleblowers.
But even if the Irish Times was legally wrong to do as it did, that can hardly exonerate DOB of his earlier wrongdoing as concluded by the Moriarty Tribunal.
Send a self addressed envelope to…
The government mouthpieces are very silent on all this. You would have thought they would roll out someone like Pascal to tsay tsomething tsincere, or maybe give him a tsmack of a tsoup tspoon.
Have you read the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal? Lowry who was Fine Gael at the time is up to his eyes in dodgy dealings with DOB, per the Tribunals own report. On top of this DOB gave large sums of money to other Fine Gael members at the time, all of which is documented. This Fine Gael government will not say boo as they, themselves are directly involved in many of the things which DOB seems to want to silence.
But check out the Moriarty Tribunals findings and see how many times ‘Fine Gael’ and various members names appear, especially when in connection to DOB.
He is just a puppet sent by the elite to take control of Ireland for the NWO…. Enda and Co. bow to him because they have no choice plus they are spineless he is taking control of the media because it needs suppressing as too many sheeple are waking up! Google search his name and illuminati or NWO or bilderburg
Why were my comments deleted?
This man must have sold off his sense of humour!!
I buy that today to wipe my rear, enda’s picture always leaves the dye behind, whoops lol.
Lest we forget !!
The tribunal found that a payment of €172,000 (£147,000) was made by Denis O’Brien to Michel Lowry through two intermediaries during a period when Michael Lowry held public office (paragraph 16.62).
It found that Michael Lowry had purchased a property in Mansfield, England, largely with funds from an account of Denis O’Brien in Crédit Suisse First Boston in London (16.78)
It found that Michael Lowry had bought a property in Cheadle, England, largely funded from that same London account of Denis O’Brien (16.89).
It found that Michael Lowry had secured a loan from Woodchester bank of £420,000 on the basis of an understanding that Denis O’Brien was backing the loan (16.89).
It found that the files in the office of a London solicitor, Christopher Vaughan, were falsified “to obscure from the Tribunal a clear connection between Mr Denis O’Brien and Mr Michael Lowry and the payments by the former to the latter” (16.97).
There is a further extraordinary finding. It reads: “The Tribunal has further concluded that the payment of Stg£150,000 to Mr Kevin Phelan by Mr Denis O’Brien, through Westferry [a company owned by Denis O’Brien] was primarily intended to ensure that Mr Kevin Phelan would not further undermine the false version of Mr Lowry’s involvement in the UK properties already tendered in evidence to the Tribunal in 2001 and the false explanation already presented, with the complicity of Mr Kevin Phelan, for the existence and provision to the Tribunal of the falsified ‘short form’ correspondence [this relates to the solici- tor’s files which were falsified]” (16.126).
The report also finds that Michael Lowry went to considerable effort to assist Denis O’Brien in securing the mobile phone licence, in disclosing to him confidential information concerning the criteria that would apply to evaluating applications for the licence and in advising him to bring Dermot Desmond on board to secure the financial status of Denis O’Brien’s company.
And this guy want’s to protect his good name … errr.. What good name !
I’m going to play Devil’s advocate here, not because I like DOB or anything, personally I think Denis should just cease and desist… No I am putting it out there so you lovely people can find more reason to argue against my comment even more :)
Denis is a business man and in his eyes and probably lawfully (grey area law) he has created an empire of multiple corporations and employs a lot of people (on minimum wage) and he never intentionally wanted to be a celebrity. Denis just wanted to hang out with the big kids in government because they are like the coolest kids in the Dáil. Denis feels that he is unnecessarily being picked on by the mean media that he does not own and he just wants a quiet life with his off shore bank accounts.
So in conclusion: LEAVE DENIS ALONE :-(
He’s hiding on the hauliers, can’t come out of hiding just yet.
no smoke without fire
For such an important rich man he is paranoid actually forget the important and rich, He is paranoid.
Anyone who supports DOB really needs to read the Moriarty Tribunal findings:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0322/298932-moriarty/
Full document there. Have a read of what the Tribunal said about DOB and his dealings with Lowry and Fine Gael. If DOB has a problem with what people are saying he should sue the Tribunal, as they are the ones who said it first. I don’t see how he can threaten to sue people for repeating what was released in a government document.
From the Moriarty Tribunal:
1352 ‘No conclusion can be arrived at, other than that repeated and clandestine courses of actions were adopted by persons intimately associated with Mr O’Brien, to confer payments or other benefits upon Mr Lowry on behalf of Mr O’Brien’
So basically a TD could claim some citizen is a pedofile or rapist, and once they do so in the Dail, there is nothing that citizen can do about it?
Seems DoB might have some merit in his argument. But the frenzied crowd with their pitchforks don’t like logic, do they?
The Dail privilege is not an absolute right, a TD can be punished if they made a statement that is found by the SPOC to be wholly groundless and made with malice afore thought. Its main use today is not slander but the exposing of corruption, which is why its in the sights of anyone with the slightest bit of power.
He may live in Malta, however he has provided employment for around ten thousand people in Ireland. As a businessman he has succeeded in getting the best value possible. For the majority of people to have employment businessmen have to succeed otherwise their capacity to employ will diminish. However if there was an international award for begrudgery Ireland would surely receive it.
The mainstay of his fortune was gained thought corruption, he built his empire on it, the job creation was not a charitable act, nor something that only he could provide, in fact, considering he had to rely on corruption, he is most likely not the best man for the job. Its arguable that the majority of his fortune should be taken the states of Ireland and Haiti as the proceeds of crime.
Can I take it that you have irrefutable proof of what you are asserting or are you peddling rumour and hearsay?
Well the €50 m CGT he didn’t pay to the Irish Exchequer on the gain generated from the ultimate sale of his Esat Digifone interests – ie the company which secured that famous mobile phone licence in 1995 – might have been legally kosher but certainly not morally or ethically, given what was at issue was in essence Irish State family silver, so to speak.
Anyway, all that is in the past now and it doesn’t look as if any agency of the state has the balls, stomach or the resources to keep flogging what can now be classed a horse of the dead variety.
It might be an opportune time now for Mr DOB to see what more he can do for his country, by way of restitution for earlier “misunderstandings”, for example he could consider providing financial and other supports for emerging enterprises, located say in deprived areas of our larger towns and cities.
As he will understand only too well, a leg up at a crucial juncture in an enterprise’s development can work wonders and can lift many souls out of poverty.
As Arthur Daley might have said “the world can be your lobster, my son, if you do the right thing”
I can’t believe people did not detect the satire in my comment. LOL, DOB is C U N T
The Times is another rag towing the Gov line it does not tolerate open discussion
Denis O’Brien and Gerry Adams are both innocent until proven guilty.
Any other innuendo is just sheer mischief-making without any proof.
Well, if you ignore the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.
have your say